Daily editionThursday, October 29th, 2026
Good morning, Durham.
The 5AM Durham Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 29th of October.
Community
Sophia, a senior cat, was featured as WRAL’s Pet of the Day on Oct. 28 and is available for adoption through Cat Angels Pet Adoptions.
WRALRead more
Culture
Editors recommend goth-rock opera BLACK LODGE + BARDO at UNC's Memorial Hall on Friday, Oct. 30 with two shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; tickets start at $25 and $11 for students.
Indy WeekRead more
Environment
Durham is offering Pumpkin Drop collection from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 at the Home Depot lots at 2701 Mount Moriah Road and 1700 N. Pointe Drive; residents can also drop pumpkins at the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center or use city food-waste stations (require the free CompostHere app).
WRALRead more
Advocates held a press conference Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Pittsboro Community House to call for a (two-year) statewide moratorium on data centers over water-use and river contamination concerns, and Haw River Assembly organizers said more press conferences will be held across the state.
WRALRead more
Health
Duke staff and faculty can register for Festive Fit Focus to maintain or lose weight; the self directed program runs Nov. 2 through Jan. 1, sends weekly tips and recipes, requires confidential weight reports by the end of business each Monday, and awards LIVE FOR LIFE Dollars based on reporting (LIVE FOR LIFE).
Duke TodayRead more
Duke Regional Hospital marks 50 years of care since opening as Durham County General Hospital in 1976, and leaders say the hospital has grown with expanded emergency + behavioral health services serving Durham and nearby counties.
Duke TodayRead more
Babies in Duke Children's Hospital's NICU wore Halloween costumes and posed for photos on Oct. 28, giving staff and families festive moments while they remain under medical care.
WRALRead more
Lifestyle
WRAL updated its news app with quicker access to local stories, easier live streaming, a cleaner home screen, improved breaking alerts, and dark mode; the update posted Oct. 28 and is available on iPhone + Android.
WRALRead more
Sports
Duke is offering Durham residents $10.31 tickets for the Halloween game against Boston College at Wallace Wade Stadium, with kickoff at noon, pre-game trick-or-treating starting at 10:30 a.m., and free Halloween buckets for the first 750 children in costume; each ticket includes a $13 concessions voucher.
ABC11Read more
Accidents
A reported electrical hazard near NC-55 & East Cornwallis Road prompted police to close several intersections before midnight, and utility crews made repairs so part of NC-55 reopened shortly before 3:30 a.m.
WRALRead more